Torch.



PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

G. H. HERRNEOKER.

TORGH.

APPLICATION IILED APR.10, 1905.

Jizwzzforr e]][err72ec%e7? a M I a GEORGE H. HERRNECKER, OF HORNELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

TORCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. 9

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed April 10, 1905. Serial No. 254,840.

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known' that I, GEORGE H. HERR- NECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hornellsville, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Torches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hand-torches for railway service, but especially to that class of torches for use on locomotive-engines to oil machinery at night or in dark places at other times or for inspection purposes; and the primary object of the invention is the production of a simply-constructed and convenient torch of a strong and durable nature having joints of a non-leakable character and separable parts which can be readily disassociated for filling the body of the torch with oil and replenishing the Wick. The improved torch may be constructed of any light material, but it is preferable that aluminium be used in the composition thereof, and the outer surface is devoid of projections, and in the absence of the latter the torch can be more conveniently and easily inserted into small openings or spaces. The improved torch also embodies a cap, which is removably fitted over the nozzle or wick-exposing end and is advantageous in preventing firing of the wooden parts of a locomotive, and especially the cab, which frequently results from a smoldering wick containing enough fire after the flame has been extinguished to ignite the woodwork adjacent thereto, which may be oily or greasy. Generally the torch is constructed to meet the demands of a confinement thereof within a small space without in the least detracting from its capacity or in any wise affecting its usefulness.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a torch embodying the features of the invention and showing the cap applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section showing the cap removed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates a tubular body of equal diameter throughout its length and formed with an integral base or bottom 2, which is peripherally projected or has a greater diameter than the body and eXteriorly formed with angular faces, the periphery of the bottom in the present instance being octagonal for the application of a wrench or Wrench-holder thereto. At its upper extremity the body 1 is formed with a circumferential offset 3 to provide an upper shoulder or seat 4, the upper extremity of the body adjacent to the offset 3 being thickened, as at 5,

to strengthen the same and permit the forgnation thereon of threads 6 above the shoul- Removably fitted on the upper end of the body 1 is a wick-nozzle having an upper contracted neck 6 and a lower enlarged cap mem ber 7 with interior threads 8 and a depending surrounding flange 9 to closely project over and bear against the upper portion of the offset 3 adjacent to the shoulder 4:. The flange 9 is of considerably less thickness than the Wall of the cap member 7 from which it depends and assists in defining an annular shoulder 10, and between the shoulders 4 and 10 a suitable washer or packing 45 is inserted and peripherally covered by the flange 9, the latter not only assisting in preventing leakage at this joint, but also obstructs entrance of the flame into the joint.

At the upper terminal of the screw-threads 8 of the cap member 7 a circumferential groove 11 is cut or otherwise formed to receive a washer or annular gasket 12, the groove 11 having such depth as to always hold the washer or gasket positively in place when the nozzle as an entirety is detached. The diameter of the inner opening of the cap member 7 where the threads 8 are formed is materially less than the diameter of the cap at the location of the groove 11, and hence the washer or gasket 12, being of a correspondingly-greater diameter than the opening in the cap member below the groove 11, must be bent or doubled to seat the same in the said groove. The outer face or surface 12 of the cap member is octagonal for the application thereto of a wrench or Wrench-holder or other analogous tool, and this octagonal surface and the one at the bottom or base of the body 1 both have wrenches or other implements simultaneously applied thereto in removing and tightening up the nozzle with respect to the body, said wrenches or other implements under such circumstances operating in opposition to each other. The neck 6 at its lower extremity, or the point where it begins to flare outwardly and merge in the cap member 7-, is formed with a circumferential shoulder 13 to provide a lower stop for a cap 14, which is removably fitted over the said neck. The advantage of this cap is that it can be pressed downwardly over the smoldering wick and prevent contact of said wick in a partially-ignited condition with woodwork of a locomotive'or other woodwork adjacent to the place of rest or disposition of the torch when not in use. The upper terminal or edge of the neck 6 is cut or otherwise formed with an inward bevel 15, which will prevent oil from leaking out and running down over the upper surface of the neck onto the cap member 7 of the nozzle, and, furthermore, when the torch is held upright the surplus oil from the exposed wick end will flow back into the neck by reason of the formation of this bevel.

When the nozzle is fully applied over the upper end of the body 1, the washer or gasket 12 is brought to bear firmly on the upper edge of said body and the flange 9 overhangs and closely contacts with the outer upper surface of the offsetB close to the shoulder 4, the shoulders at and 10 when the nozzle is thus assembled also having close contact with the washer 4, and by this means a non-leaking joint is formed with an advantage in cleanliness of the torch and a material saving in the use of oil.

The torch may be constructed of any light metal; but it is preferred to use aluminium in view of the valuable characteristics and reduced weight of such metal, and as the torch in the main comprises but two parts-namely, the body and the nozzle the cost of manufacture thereof is reduced to a minimum. In addition to the advantage noted for the cap 14; the latter will also, when applied over the neck 6 prevent waste of oil if the torch be accidentally upset or fall over, and, furthermore, the cap will be of suflicient length to compensate for the projecting end of the wick.

In preparing the torch for use the usual course is pursued, and consists in disposing the wick in the nozzle and projecting itbeyond the upper end of the neck a suificient distance and inclosing the depending part of said wick within the body, the latter being then filled with oil.

The several parts will be of such proportions that they will accommodate the standard size of torch ordinarily employed by railway engineers and others; but, if found desirable, it is obvious that both the body and nozzle as well as the cap may be increased or decreased in size.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A torch of the class set forth, having an exteriorly-smooth circular body with a poly onal base to form a wrench surface, and an upper shouldered end increased in thickness and exteriorly screw-threaded, and a nozzle removably applied over the said upper end of the body and formed with a reduced neck and with interior screw-threads at its lower enthe lower extremity of the nozzle having a polygonal contour to form a wrench-engagement surface and said extremity also provided with a depending flange to project over and bear against the periphery of the upper end of the body over which it is fitted.

2. A torch of the class set forth, having a body with an upper offset and a circumferential shoulder, a nozzle removably applied to the upper end of the body and provided with a reduced neck, a lower annular shoulder, and a depending flange, and a washer between said shoulders, the annular shoulder closely engaging the washer, and the depending flange projecting over and bearing against the periphery of the offset of the body.

3. A torch of the class set forth, having a body with an upper ofl'set and a circumferem tial shoulder, and a nozzle removably fitted over the upper extremity of the body and provided with a washer to engage the upper edge of the body and also formed with an annular shoulder with a depending flange, the annular shoulder coinciding with the circumferential shoulder and the depending flange extending over and fitting snugly against the periphery of the offset of the body to form a close joint between the connected extremities of the nozzle and body.

4:. A torch of the class set forth, having a body, a nozzle having a screw-threaded opening to permit it to be removably applied to the upper end of the body and formed with a seat-groove opening into the upper portion of the opening and having a greater diameter than the latter, and an annular washer of approximately the same diameter as the seatgroove and positively held in the latter at all times and adapted to be brought into close contact with the upper edge of the body, the said washer being inserted through the screwthreaded opening of the nozzle into the groove the difference in diameter with respect to the seat-groove and washer and the opening in the nozzle preventing the said washer from becoming accidentally detached when the nozzle is removed.

5. A torch of the class set forth, having a body with an upper screw-threaded extremity, an offset below the screw-threads, and a circumferential shoulder formed by the oifset, a

, nozzle having a lower interiorly-screw-threaded member to fit over the upper screw-threaded extremity of the body, the nozzle being provided with a seat-groove at the upper terminal of the screw-threads thereof of greater diameter than the diameter of the opening below where the threads are formed, and also provided with an annular shoulder and a depending flange, and an annular washer positively held in the said seat-groove at all times to bear on the upper edge of the body, and a washer interposed between the circumferenlarged extremity to engage the screw-threads tial shoulder of the body and the annular on the upper shouldered end, the exterior of l shoulder of the nozzle, the depending flange of the nozzle fitting over and snugly bearing against the periphery of the offset of the body.

6. A torch of the class set forth, having a body, a nozzle removably applied to the upper end of the body and formed with a reduced neck having a circumferential shoulder at its base, the exterior surface of the neck being smooth and the lower extremity of the nozzle is diametrically enlarged and provided with a depending flange to extend over the periphery of the upper portion of the body to provide a tight joint, and a cap removably applied over the neck and of greater length than the latter, the cap being slidable with respect to the neck through the entire length of said neck, and forming a flush joint with the shoulder at the base of said neck.

7 In a torch of the class set forth, a body having screw-threads at its upper extremity, and a nozzle also screw-threaded and removably applied to the upper end of the body, the lower extremity of the nozzle being diametrically enlarged and provided with a depending flange to extend over and bear against the upper part of the body to provide a tight joint, the upper end of the nozzle having an inwardly-beveled drain-surface to permit the oil from the wick to run back into the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. HERRNECKER.

WVitnesses:

FRED M. HALs'rEAn, ELMER L. REED. 

